History

Dwalin's place of birth is unknown – two years before he was born the dragonSmaug had come to Erebor[2] and destroyed King Thrór's kingdom. Thrór, his son Thráin, and a small group of kinsmen and followers headed south while other Dwarves escaped to the Iron Hills.[3] After the Battle of Azanulbizar, Thráin II and Thorin settled in the northern Ered Luin[1] and at some point Dwalin joined them.

King Thráin's expedition

Dwalin, his brother Balin, and a few others accompanied Thráin II in T.A.2841 when he left the Ered Luin to visit Erebor. The small party was dogged by the emissaries of Sauron. In 2845 Thráin was captured one night when he and his companions sheltered under the eaves of Mirkwood from a black rain. After a fruitless search for their leader the Dwarves gave up and returned to Thorin.[3]

The Quest for Erebor

Dwalin by Adlpictures.

Dwalin was the first Dwarf to arrive, alone, at Bag End when the unexpected party began at Bilbo's hobbit hole. Dwalin's beard was blue and tucked into a golden belt. He was wearing a dark-green hood and walked in as if expected, which greatly surprised Bilbo. Soon Balin arrived and he and Dwalin sat talking while Bilbo kept answering the door for the arrival of more and more Dwarves. Later, when Bilbo griped aloud in his kitchen about the lack of help in setting out refreshments, Dwalin and Balin were the first (followed by Fíli and Kíli) to lend a hand. Later still, when the Dwarves filled Bag End with music, Dwalin played on a viol as big as himself.[4]

When the company rushed up into trees to escape the wargs, Dwalin and Balin managed to swarm up a tall slender fir that had few branches for sitting.[5] The next day, when the company arrived at Beorn's hall, Dwalin and Balin were the third pair of Dwarves to appear during Gandalf's story.[6]

At the Enchanted River in Mirkwood, Dwalin was in the last boatload to cross. He exited the boat just before the deer charged down the path and caused Bombur to fall in the water. Later, after the Dwarves had been captured by the spiders and rescued by Bilbo, it was Dwalin who first realized that Thorin was missing.[7]

At the opening of the barrels after the escape from the halls of the Elvenking, Dwalin and Balin were two of the most unhappy Dwarves and did nothing to help pull out other Dwarves.[8]

When the last week of autumn arrived it was Dwalin who complained the most about Bilbo's inactivity. He felt that Bilbo, with his "invisible ring", ought to go through the Front Gate of Erebor and spy things out.[9]

Later life

Dwalin was one of seven of the ten Dwarves of Thorin's company who were still living in Erebor when Frodo came to Rivendell, as reported by Glóin.[11] Dwalin lived until Fo.A.91, later than any other known date of death for others of the company.[12]

Genealogy

Etymology

In Norse mythology, Dvalinn is a chief Dwarf.[13] The origin of the name is uncertain; suggested etymologies are "one lying in a trance",[14] "numb" and "dawdler".[15] Both words, dvalen ("to sleep") dvelja ("to delay") derive from the same root.[16]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the early version of The Hobbit it was Dwalin rather than Balin who spotted the Trolls' fire in the woods (and it was stated that Dwalin was always the Dwarves' look-out).[17] This contradicted the fact that Balin was the Dwarf who was looking for Bilbo at the inn at the start of the adventure[18] and Tolkien eventually made Balin the permanent look-out. However, Dwalin remained the first Dwarf to arrive at Bag End[4] (what would be expected of the Company's look-out). Dwalin was also the first to notice that Thorin was missing after the battle with the spiders,[7] a testament to his observational abilities.

Dwalin is played by Graham McTavish.[20] A description of Dwalin in The Hobbit films was released by the studio:

Renowned as a great Warrior, Dwalin speaks his mind plainly and is not one to suffer fools lightly. Fiercely loyal, he is Thorin Oakenshield’s staunchest supporter with an unshakeable belief in his friend’s leadership. A powerful and bruising fighter, Dwalin has a natural tendency to distrust anyone who is not a Dwarf and is particularly suspicious of Elves. Proud, brave and one of the tallest of the Dwarves, Dwalin will bow to none but those who have earned his respect.—Warner Bros.[21]